Sealed cable passage

ABSTRACT

The present invention concerns a transit for leading cables, pipes or wires through a partition in a sealed way. The transit comprises a sleeve ( 1 ) and a seal ( 2 ) to be received inside a central through opening of the sleeve ( 1 ). The seal ( 2 ) comprises a base part ( 7 ), a front fitting ( 9 ) and a rear fitting ( 10 ), which front and rear fittings ( 9, 10 ) are placed at opposite ends of the base part ( 7 ). The base part ( 7 ) of the seal ( 2 ) is made of a compressible material, whereby the front and rear fittings ( 9, 10 ) are arranged to be moved towards each other in order to compress the base part ( 7 ) of the seal ( 2 ). The compression is achieved by co-operating threaded pins ( 19 ) and nuts ( 11 ). At least one rotating fitting ( 13 ) is placed between the front fitting ( 9 ) and the base part ( 7 ) of the seal ( 2 ), and is received on one of the threaded pins ( 19 ).

This application is a National Stage Application of PCT/EP2018/059723,filed 17 Apr. 2018, which claims benefit of Ser. No. 17166787.6, filed18 Apr. 2017 in Europe and which applications are incorporated herein byreference. To the extent appropriate, a claim of priority is made toeach of the above disclosed applications.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention concerns a transit or lead-through for leadingcables, pipes or wires through a partition in a sealed way.

BACKGROUND

In many different circumstances cables, pipes or wires are to go throughsome kind of partition in a sealed way. One example of such acircumstance is for tanks, where a cable is to go through a wall of thetank without causing any leakage. Such a transit for a tank is oftenreferred to as a tank boundary assembly and is shown in the presentapplication as one example.

Even though the present invention has been developed mainly as a tankboundary assembly a person skilled in the art realises that it may beused in other areas as well. The transit of the present invention may beused for sealing of cables, as well as pipes and wires. It can be usedfor many types of partitions in addition to tanks, such as bulkheads ofships and walls of cabinets, technical shelters, junction boxes andmachines. The transit of the present invention may be used in manydifferent industrial environments, such as marine, offshore, automotive,telecom, power generation and distribution.

Further demands on transits or lead-throughs of this kind can be thatthey should allow for cable replacement, that they should be possible toretrofit, that they are easy to handle and that they can be installedfrom one side of a partition.

SUMMARY

One object of the present invention is to mechanically restrain a sealfrom moving axially in relation to a sleeve, inside of which the seal isreceived. The seal and the sleeve forms a transit for a cable, pipe orwire. Furthermore, inner sheets, forming a part of the seal, are to berestrained from moving axially in relation to the rest of the seal.

The above object is achieved with the features of claim 1.

According to one aspect of the present invention a transit for a cable,pipe or wire is provided, comprising a sleeve and a seal received insidethe sleeve. The sleeve has a central through opening for receiving theseal. The seal comprises a compressible base part with a front fittingand a rear fitting placed at opposite ends of the central part. Thefront and rear fittings are arranged in such a way that they can bemoved towards each other to compress the base part of the seal. The sealhas at least one rotating fitting placed between a front fitting and abase part of the seal. The at least one rotating fitting is arrangedrotatable on a pin.

According to another aspect of the present invention the transit is usedas a tank boundary assembly.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be obvious to aperson skilled in the art when reading the detailed description below ofembodiments of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be described further below by way of example and withreference to the enclosed drawings. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one example of a transit according tothe present invention;

FIG. 2 is an end view of the transit of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross section view taken along the line A-A in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a seal forming a part of the transit ofprevious Figs.;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the seal of FIG. 4 taken in an oppositedirection;

FIG. 6 is an end view of the seal of FIGS. 4 and 5; and

FIG. 7 is a section view along the line B of FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

As used in this description the expressions “axial”, “radial”,“longitudinal” and similar expressions are in view of a cable, pipe orwire received in the centre of the transit.

The transit of the present invention comprises two main parts, a sleeve1 and a seal 2. The seal 2 is to be received inside the sleeve 1.

The sleeve 1 has a generally cylindrical shape with a protrudingcircumferential flange 3 on the outside of the sleeve 1. The flange 3 isplaced approximately in the middle of the sleeve 1. In other embodimentsthe sleeve has no outer flange. The sleeve 1 has a through opening forreceiving the seal 2. On the inside of the sleeve 1 a circumferentialinner groove 4 is arranged at each opposite end of the sleeve 1, betweenan end part 5 and a central part 6 of the sleeve 1. Thus, there is anend part 5 at each opposite end of the sleeve 1. The inner diameter ofeach end part 5 of the sleeve 1 is smaller than the inner diameter ofeach inner groove 4 of the sleeve 1 but larger than the inner diameterof the central part 6 of the sleeve 1. The inner diameter of the centralpart 6 of the sleeve 1 is smaller than the inner diameter of each innergroove 4 of the sleeve. In other embodiments there is an inner groove 4only at one end of the sleeve 1.

The seal 2 has a base part 7. The base part 7 has a general cylindricalform with an inner through opening. A number of peelable sheets 8 areplaced on an inner wall of the through opening of the base part 7. Boththe base part 7 and the sheets 8 are made of a compressible plastic orrubber material. The seal 2 has a front fitting 9 and a rear fitting 10at opposite ends. Both the front fitting 9 and the rear fitting 10 has ageneral ring form, with an inner and an outer diameter. A number ofthreaded pins 19 are arranged going through openings of the frontfitting 9 and the base part 7. Each threaded pin 19 is fixed in anopening 18 of the rear fitting 10. The fixing of the threaded pins 19 tothe openings 18 of rear fitting 10 is normally made by welding. An endof each threaded pin 19 projects outside the front fitting 9 and a nut11 is received at each projecting end of the threaded pin 19 by means ofthreads. By cooperation between the threaded pins 19 and the nuts 11,the front fitting 9 and the rear fitting 10 can be moved towards eachother, whereby the base part 7 is compressed in longitudinal direction.By the compression in longitudinal direction the base part 7 will expandin radial direction, both inwards and outwards. The front fitting 9 hastwo protruding parts 12, placed opposite each other on the outerdiameter and protruding radially outwards from the front fitting 9. Tworecesses 15 are placed opposite each other on the inner diameter of thefront fitting 9. An oblong through opening 16 is placed at eachprotruding part 12 of the front fitting 9.

Two rotating fittings 13 are placed between the base part 7 and thefront fitting 9 of the seal 2. Each rotating fitting 13 has an openingfor receiving one of the threaded pins 19 of the seal 2. The opening forreceiving the threaded pin 19 is placed at one end of the rotatingfitting 13. Each rotating fitting 13 has a curved form with an axialprotrusion 14 along a part of the rotating fitting 13 facing a centre ofthe seal 2. The axial protrusion 14 is placed at an opposite end to theend of the rotating fitting 13 having the opening for receiving thethreaded pin 19. The axial protrusion 14 of each rotating fitting 13 isto be placed in one of the recesses 15 on the inner diameter of thefront fitting 9 in a retracted position of the rotating fitting 13. Bymeans of the axial protrusion 14 the rotating fitting 13 can be rotatedinto a desired position by hand.

In the shown embodiment the seal 2 has four threaded pins 19 received infour openings of the front fitting 9 and the base part 7, respectively.A person skilled in the art realizes that other numbers of threaded pins19 and corresponding openings may be used. The number of threaded pins19 often depend on the dimensions of the seal and normally variesbetween four and fourteen.

Normally the seal 2 is made in two parts, whereby the seal 2 is dividedalong a central plane. In that the seal 2 is made of two parts it can beplaced around a cable or pipe already installed. Thus, each of the basepart 7, the front fitting 9 and the rear fitting 10 is made in twoparts. The through opening of the seal 2 is formed by means of a grooveon each half of the base part 7 of the seal 2. The groove on respectivehalf of the base part 7 of the seal goes from one end to the other endand receives the peelable sheets 8. One rotating fitting 13 is receivedin each half of the seal 2. Each half of the base part 7 has a centralgroove inside of which the peelable sheets 8 are placed. Each half ofthe front fitting 9 has a recess 17 at the centre of the sides to befacing the other half of the front fitting 9. The recesses 17 are placedin such a way that an oblong opening is formed where the recesses 17 ofthe two halves of the front fitting 9 meet.

In use the sleeve 1 is to be placed in an opening of a tank wall orother partition and the flange 3 of the sleeve 1 is to be welded to atank wall or other partition. For sleeves not having any outer flange,the sleeve is welded directly to the tank wall or other partition.

In use the protruding parts 12 of the front fitting 9 is to be receivedin one of the inner grooves 4 of the sleeve 1. The outer diameter of thefront fitting 9, when including the protruding parts 12 placed atopposite sides, is larger than the inner diameter of the end part 5 andcentral part 6, respectively, of the sleeve 1. Thus, when the frontfitting 9 is received in one of the inner grooves 4 of the sleeve 1axial movement of the front fitting 9 and, thus, the seal 2 as such, isrestrained.

The outer diameter of the rear fitting 10 is smaller than the innerdiameter of the end parts 5 and the central part 6, respectively, of thesleeve 1. Thus, the rear fitting 10 is free to move axially in thethrough opening of the sleeve 1.

Even though each half of the base part 7 of the seal 2 is made of threeparts in the shown embodiment, the base part 7 of the seal 2 is normallymade in one piece.

As the sleeve 1 as shown is symmetrical and has inner grooves 4 at bothends, the seal 2 can be inserted from any of the ends of the sleeve 1.For embodiments of the sleeve 1 having an inner groove 4 at only oneend, the orientation of the seal 2 has to be considered when insertingit. The orientation of the seal 2 should be such that the front fitting9 of the seal 2 is placed at the inner groove 4 of the sleeve 1 havingonly one inner groove.

The seal 2 of the transit of the present invention can be installed andmanipulated from one side of the partition receiving the sleeve 1 of thetransit.

In use the sleeve 1 is placed in an opening of some kind of a partitionand is then welded to said partition, normally at the flange 3 of thesleeve 1. With the sleeve 1 in place in the partition a cable, pipe orwire is routed through the sleeve 1. The seal 2 is then to be placedaround the cable, pipe or wire. In order to adapt the inner diameter ofthe seal 2 to the outer diameter of the cable, pipe or wire, anappropriate number of sheets 8 are peeled off from the groove ofrespective half of the base part 7 of the seal 2. A first half of theseal 2 is then inserted into the sleeve 1 and the cable, pipe or wire isplaced in the grove of said half of the seal 2. Said first half of theseal 2 is pushed into the sleeve 1 with the end having the rear fitting10. The nuts 11 of the inserted half of the seal 2 are not fullytightened, allowing motion for the front fitting 9 and the rotatingfitting 13 but not tilting. The other, second half of the seal 2 is theninserted into the sleeve 1 and placed with the cable, pipe or wire inthe grove of the second half of the seal 2. Also the second half of theseal 1 is inserted into the sleeve 1 with the end having the rearfitting 10. At insertion of the second half of the seal 2 the nuts 11 ofit are loose enough to allow tilting of the front fitting 9. Atinsertion the protruding part 12 of the front fitting 9 will hit the endof the sleeve 1 tilting the front fitting 9. The tilted front fitting 9is then inserted into the inner groove 4 of the sleeve 1, whereby thetwo parts of the front fitting 9 are in their intended position insidethe inner groove 4 of the sleeve 1 locking each other. The nuts 11 ofthe second half of the seal 2 are then tightened to the same degree asthe nuts 11 of the first half of the seal 2, allowing adjustment of therotating fitting 13.

Before the nut 11 on the threaded pin 19 receiving each of the rotatingfittings 13 is fully tightened, each rotating fitting 13 is rotated to aposition where the axial protrusion 14 abuts the cable, pipe or wirereceived inside the seal 2. In that position each rotating fitting 13will cover the ends of the sheets 8 of the seal 2. When the nuts 11 aretightened each rotating fitting 13 will be kept in the position wherethe axial protrusion 14 abuts the cable, pipe or wire by means of beingpressed between the front fitting 9 and the base part 7 of the seal 2.

When the protruding parts 12 of the front fitting 9 have been placedinside the inner groove 4 of the sleeve 1, the nuts 11 are tightened. Asthe nuts 11 are tightened the front fitting 9 and the rear fitting 10will be moved in direction towards each other, compressing the base part7 of the seal 2. As the base part 7 of the seal 2 is compressed in axialdirection, it will expand radially and be pressed outwardly against theinner wall of the through opening of the sleeve 1, at the same time asit is pressed inwardly against the cable, pipe or wire received insidethe seal 2.

The openings 16 and the recesses 17 of the front fitting 9 are used inun-installation of the seal 2. To un-install the seal 2, the nuts 11 arefirst loosened. A screwdriver or other suitable tool is then inserted inat least one of the recesses 17, to tilt one half of the front fitting 9on top of the other half of the front fitting 9. The tool can then beinserted in the opening 16 to move the tilted half of the front fitting9 into the centre of the seal 2. One half of the seal 2 will then befree to be pulled out of the sleeve 1. It is then possible to also pullout the other half of the seal 2.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A transit for a cable, pipe or wirecomprising a sleeve and a seal to be received inside the sleeve, whereinthe sleeve has a central through opening, wherein the seal comprises abase part, a front fitting and a rear fitting, which front fitting andrear fitting are placed at opposite ends of the base part, wherein thebase part of the seal is made of a compressible material, and whereinthe seal comprises means to move the front fitting and the rear fittingtowards each other compressing the base part, wherein the seal comprisesthreaded pins fixed to the rear fitting and going through openings ofthe base part and the front fitting, that nuts are received on one endof each threaded pin projecting outside the front fitting, that at leastone rotating fitting is placed between the front fitting and the basepart of the seal, with an opening of the rotating fitting placed on oneof the threaded pins, and that the at least one rotating fitting isarranged to be rotated on the threaded pin.
 2. The transit of claim 1,wherein each rotating fitting has a protrusion extended in axialdirection of the seal, which protrusion is placed at an end remote tothe threaded pin receiving the rotating fitting and wherein theprotrusion of each rotating fitting is arranged to abut against a cablereceived inside the seal.
 3. The transit of claim 2, wherein the frontfitting has one or more recesses on an inner circumference, arranged toreceive the protrusion of the at least one rotating fitting.
 4. Thetransit of claim 1, wherein the sleeve has at least one inner groove atone ned of the sleeve, which inner groove is designed to receive one ormore protruding parts of the front fitting.
 5. The transit of claim 4,wherein the front fitting has two protruding parts placed opposite eachother.
 6. The transit of claim 1, wherein the base part, the frontfitting and the rear fitting of the seal each comprises two separateidentical parts.
 7. The transit of claim 6, wherein each half of thebase part of the seal has a central groove extending from one end to theother end of the half of the base part, wherein a number of peelablesheets are placed in the central groove and wherein a through opening isformed in the seal by means of the groove of respective half of the basepart of the seal.
 8. The transit of claim 6, wherein each part of thefront fitting has a recess on the edges facing the other part of thefront fitting, whereby two openings are formed when the front fitting isfastened to the base part.
 9. The transit of claim 1, wherein the sleevehas a general tubular form and a flange on an outer circumference, whichflange is placed about at the centre of the sleeve.
 10. The transit ofany of the previous claims claim 1, wherein the base part of the sealhas a general tubular form.
 11. Use of the transit of claim 1 as a tankboundary assembly.